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Objective: To determine quality of life (QOL) and health in Danish CFS patients 9 years after diagnosis.
Methods: Thirty-four adults with CFS responded to questions regarding QOL at diagnosis, and again 5 and 9 years later. At 9-year follow-up patients also responded to questions regarding health, fatigue, use of Health Care system, alcohol and exercise.
Results:
- Two patients (6%) had recovered and 3 patients (10%) had received secondary diagnoses.
- Overall, there was no improvement, except with depression/anxiety.
- The order of severity among disabilities remained the same.
- Work had the highest disability score, followed by post-exertional malaise.
- Patients slept and rested 13.6 hours a day (mean).
- Self-reported physical health correlated with hours sleeping and resting.
- Rheumatic symptoms dominated the health symptoms.
- Alcohol consumption was low, and the use of the Health Care system was modest.
Conclusion: After 9 years QOL was the same as at diagnosis, only mental health had improved.
Source: Journal of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Vol. 14, No. 2, 2007, pp. 7-23. DOI: 10.1300/J092v14n02_02 by Andersen MM, Permin H, Albrecht F.
